It seems that fishing is quite the preoccupation in Minnesota, as it was in Montana, but here it is lake fishing from a boat, or, as my counter mate preferred, out on the ice. Now THAT is a solitary existence. It's just you and the fish, and if the fish is otherwise preoccupied, then it's just you. And people ask ME if I ever get lonely out on the road.
The day's ride was to be a short affair to Willmar, and it didn't occur to me as I planned the route that there was only one town that I passed through, and that was right at the beginning. It was pretty well closed up on Sunday. The rest of the day was spent wending my way down county roads, past many lakes, large and small. The roads are gridded north-south and east-west and so only occasionally does one touch a lake shore that has access to the water. Generally you must go down a dirt road some distance to get your feet wet, and so I spent most of the day looking at the lakes from afar. This particular Sunday was very warm and it seemed the lakes were very popular.
Willmar is a town of substantial size (the business district might be twenty city blocks), but it was a veritable ghost town on Sunday afternoon and I was hard pressed to find someone for directions. It appeared that all the residents were out at those lakes I'd just passed.
I am about 120 miles west of Minneapolis, and am not going into the "cities". Babcock and Turner made a bee line toward that destination, and a letter was addressed from the town of Murdock on July 19:
Dear Chas-
Made an 82 mile run today against a headwind all day. It looks like rain but if it holds off we shall sleep in Minneapolis tomorrow night.
My rear tire is getting tired and they both show use. The cyclometer passed the 2000 mile point today.
It looks now as if we would be in Chicago by the 25th. Tomorrow is the day we are due in Jefferson (Ohio) according to your chronometer.
So long-
Will
Our route from Fargo has been via Breckenridge, Morris, Benson, Willmar, etc. We came south to avoid sand.
Somewhere along the way I have done 350 more miles than they did. Probably all the zigs and zags on back roads that are straightened out by the railroad right of way.
61 miles today and 2 days to get to Janesville.
Life on the road is good,
Dennis